Horrible! Actually playing this kind of game!

The dream ends here.

The cold winter rain casually wets the roof drain pipes.

Sakura's eyes slowly opened.

It seemed like I was dreaming about what happened a few days ago.

This is a stone room, and I sleep on the treatment table.

There was darkness in front of him──and there stood the priest who, like himself, could not see anything.

"Are you awake? Do you need to explain the situation, Matou Sakura?"

"No need. You can understand your own body."

Sakura answered succinctly.

She did not look at the priest, only staring at the wall where the rain was beating.

"Very good. Then get dressed early. Tohsaka Rin and Emiya Shirou are waiting next door. It's impossible not to explain your condition to them.

Besides, you can't escape even if you're naked. "

"Can I escape?" Sakura hesitated.

"It's up to you whether you want to escape or not. I'm just rescuing you. What you want to do is not something I can decide.

Hey, if you die in front of the person who saved you, your efforts will be in vain. Don't you want to survive until the end? "

".Then, why?"

"It's more interesting this way. If you were alive, you would have caused pain to Tohsaka Rin and Emiya Shirou. It is a joy to me to increase the number of people who are suffering."

The priest replied, turning his back to her.

Then headed towards the chapel.

He didn't even glance at the girl hugging him on the treatment table.

"Then. Will they let Matou Sakura live or die? If you are interested in their choice, just stay here.

Here I am, although it looks quite simple. But I don’t know why it is only here that one can clearly hear the conversation in the chapel. "

The priest held back his gloomy laughter as he walked towards the atrium.

"...Senior. What should I do?"

Hold the knee of one foot.

The low moans that came out were masked by the sound of rain.

…

…

When he woke up again, Shirou found that he was already in the church.

"How is it? Has your physical condition improved a little?"

Emiya leaned on the back of the church bench and nodded without saying a word.

"That's it. Then there is no need for treatment. Then we will wait together and recover our physical strength, so just stay calmly."

Tohsaka said as he sat down on a chair a little away from him.

When he opened his clothes, he saw that the wounds on Emiya's body had been treated. It was Rin who sent him and Sakura here.

After waiting for a while, Kotomine Kirei walked out.

Kotomine Kirei tells them that Sakura's treatment is complete.

Although the situation was still unstable, his life was finally saved. For this reason, Kotomine Kirei used up all the markings on his entire arm.

"That child is attacking himself."

Kotomine Kirei explained in detail:

It turns out that Sakura's body has been filled with marking insects by Matou Zangyan since she was very young. This marking insect will change the magic circuit in her body and control her at the same time.

After being eroded by the marking bug, no matter who it is, they will fall into complete physical and mental collapse.

Hearing this, Yamada Masaharu gritted his teeth in anger.

Matou Zōyan is really a pervert and a bastard. What qualifications does such a person have to be someone else's grandfather?

To think that even a cute girl like Sakura can be sacrificed. Matou Zouken is really a devil who does not hesitate to use any means.

The current situation is that as long as the marking insect is still in Sakura's body, Sakura's life source magic power will continue to be absorbed.

In the end, death is inevitable.

But now there is no way to get rid of the marking bugs in her body.

There is another one left in her body. After all, these guys have been living with her for 11 years. If they were taken out rashly, Sakura herself would die.

“The result is that Sakura’s life is held in Zangyan’s hands.

Therefore, if you want to save Sakura, you must defeat Zangyan.

───But, Emiya-san.

If you want to defeat Zouken, you must defeat Sakura first. That child is a puppet controlled by Zang Yan.

If Zang Yan is forced into a hurry,

I will definitely use Sakura as a shield. "

When Shirou Emiya heard this, he said nothing and clenched his fists tightly.

"That's the way it is. For Zouken, Matou Sakura is a pawn that can only be used.

Just like he instigated Shinji Matou, he would also manipulate Sakura.

In fact, in terms of ability as a master, Sakura is better.

As long as she can control the insects, she will become a better Master than Matou Shinji, become the Master that Zangyan likes, and go berserk. "

You are really extremely hateful, the bad old man of the Matou family!

Yamada Masaharu was filled with resentment.

"The best way now is to win the Holy Grail. Perhaps through the power of the Holy Grail, Sakura can become a healthy girl."

That's all Kotomine Kirei said, leaving the rest to Emiya's own judgment.

but……

What can I do after losing Saber?

…

To be honest, Masaharu Yamada is also very desperate now.

Saber is gone, Emiya Shirou has lost his master qualification, he is really desperate.

Do you want to use your mortal body to fight those heroic spirit servants?

Who can this beat?

So Rin Tohsaka is the only hope, right?

…

At this moment, Shirou Emiya learned some disturbing news——

During their conversation, Sakura seemed to hear her. Sakura, who did not want to be a burden or hindrance to Emiya, dragged her tired and injured body out of the church.

Emiya immediately rushed out the door in a hurry, making sure to find Sakura before Tohsaka.

While he was looking for Sakura, he saw the white-haired Illya again in the park.

This time Illya has noticed that there is no Command Seal on the back of Emiya's hand, which means that Shirou Emiya is no longer her enemy.

Then she became uncharacteristically concerned about Emiya Shirou.

Became a lively and lovely girl.

After some conversation, it turns out that Illya is Emiya's sister, she is Emiya Kiritsugu's daughter, and Emiya Kiritsugu is Emiya Shirou's adoptive father.

So she has always cared about her younger brother.

But because Emiya [took] away Emiya Kiritsugu's love, Illya was a little jealous again.

Overall, Illya is a good and good child. After hearing about Saber, she patted Emiya's head like a big sister.

So, what is your wish now?

Option 1. Become a partner of justice

Option 2. To protect Sakura.

…

Of course I chose to protect Sakura.

Masaharu Yamada made a choice.

[If you continue to deceive yourself like this, you will definitely regret it even if you move forward.

Where responsibility lies, the presence or absence of good and evil.

Compared with being chased by these things, losing Sakura is more serious.

The determination I have made so far is no longer needed.

Because I just want to protect Sakura. 】

"Ah. It's natural to protect the girl you like. Of course I know about this kind of thing, Illya."

"Right? Because that's the kind of person Shirou is, that's why I'm on your side."

Illya smiled happily.

[Her innocence gave me great courage.

Whether this is the right choice or not, I don’t know.

But I definitely won't regret it. 】

"I'm sorry, Illya. I'm almost leaving."

"That's it. Because you look so sad, I forgive you. Let's meet next time, Shirou."

"Ah. Goodbye, Illya. And, thank you."

Emiya left the park.

He said goodbye to his confusion and ran towards the mountain.

The answer has been decided.

[I don’t know how Sakura has supported me from the death of Father Kiritsugu to now.

That was the schoolgirl I had always believed in, the girl I had never realized was the opposite sex.

If you want her to stay by my side, then just do this and continue to deceive yourself.

However, this situation can no longer be maintained by relying on obfuscation.

──Emiya Shirou, I don’t want to lose Matou Sakura.

That's all for now.

If you can't think about anything, then you can only believe in the only certainty. 】

…

When Emiya found Sakura, she was squatting helplessly on the road.

At this time, Sakura was already homeless.

No matter it was the Matou family, the Tohsaka family, or the Emiya family, there was no place for her.

It was raining heavily, soaking Sakura's clothes and hair.

Under the dim street lights, Sakura's thin figure looked so sad that it made people feel heartbroken.

"cherry."

At this moment, Emiya's voice sounded behind her.

Matou Sakura's whole body trembled.

"Learn... grow...?"

When she stood up, she had tears in her eyes.

"Sakura." Emiya laughed.

"No, don't come over!"

Sakura rejected him desperately with an attitude she had never had before.

Emiya stopped.

Sakura didn't raise her head, holding the hem of her skirt tightly.

Her posture was as sad as the shameful sinner she was.

"────Sakura."

“.Please, go back.

If you approach me now, I──don’t know what I will do. "

Her voice trembled.

It was the cold rain and the feeling of guilt that made Sakura shiver.

Emiya was unable to wipe away her trembling.

The only thing he can do is...

"───Go home, Sakura. Your cold is not completely cured yet."

".Senior."

Sakura's hair, soaked in rainwater, swayed.

Sakura bit her lip slightly and shook her head slowly.

"I can't go back. Where else can I go back now?"

She spoke decisively with a voice mixed with hatred.

"Sakura." Emiya called her name softly.

"That's enough, senior. You don't have to force yourself to care about people like me."

"Because, you already know everything, right?

I have been lying to my seniors.

It has ended. "

"Stop saying stupid things.

Everything goes well with what I heard.

The only Sakura I know is the Sakura who has been with me until now.

Why should it end with something like this. "Emiya said distressedly.

“.Because, it’s over.

I have always hidden the fact that I am Matou's magician from my seniors.

I didn’t tell you when I became a Master, and when senior brought Saber-san here, I also lied to you by pretending that I didn’t know.

look.

Because this is appropriate, so I won't make the seniors angry. "

"Sakura." Emiya Shirou called her name distressedly.

“But, I’m such a fool.

Because of his loss of control, he hurt his senior. "

Sakura sobbed, "Tohsaka-senpai is right. I'm a coward, a crybaby, and a scumbag.

Even though I knew it very well, I still couldn't disobey Grandpa, and I couldn't even kill myself.

I hate pain and fear. I value myself more than others. I don’t even have the courage to die! "

she cried.

Sakura kept sobbing.

Crying, not knowing what to do, and falling deeper into sadness.

Emiya felt it was regret.

──So far, he has never seen Sakura cry.

Why couldn't I have discovered the meaning of this crying that was just blaming myself?

"Stop crying, Sakura."

“So, it’s all my fault.

I am Grandpa's puppet. I don't know when I will go crazy like before. One day, I will definitely do something irreversible.

Where else can I go back like this! ?

Say it, senior! ! "

Sakura forced herself into a corner.

No one could blame Sakura.

Because of this, Sakura could only blame herself.

He is a bad person.

The only way to blame evildoers is to punish them.

"So, stop crying."

[Sakura once said.

Because she is a coward, someone must hold her hand by force, like this.

What does that mean, I finally understand.

What I want to protect.

The most important thing to me.

I can't even think about losing it.

If you don't want to continue crying.

As long as I hold her hand and take her to a place where the sun shines, then from now on...]

".I'm sorry, senior. I've been lying to senior.

But I've always thought so. I'm not someone who can stay with seniors. So it’s just for today, I’ll have to pretend from tomorrow on

Become someone you don’t know.

When we meet in the corridor, we just pass by each other. After school, we pretend not to know each other like everyone else. We also go home alone at night, forgetting everything that happened up to now! "

"But I can't do it! My body will tremble whenever I think about it. It's so scary. It's so scary.

I was so scared, even scarier than putting a knife on my wrist when I wanted to die, so I couldn't stop going to my senior's house.

Even wanting to stop deceiving the seniors is so scary. Everyone is surrounded by terror and can't even move a step. What should I do? I don't know...! "

However, I believe this is good.

Although Sakura said it was better not to know.

Therefore, Emiya just let Sakura cry.

".How stupid. This kind of thing will be discovered one day.

By the time I was discovered, it was already too late, and I could not set foot in the principal's home again.

So before that, it would be better for me to leave first, I thought so every night, every night.

As long as it was for the seniors, I would definitely not become so sad or cry like this, even though I know──”

So, no need to keep crying about this.

No one can blame Sakura, so Sakura only has herself to blame.

"But──but I still, keep it secret!

I want to protect the time I spend with my seniors!

To me, it just makes sense, but why.! "

Even if no one else forgives her, I just want to take Sakura's place and forgive her.

"ah!"

At this moment, Emiya Shirou came forward and hugged her cold body.

Matou Sakura's pupils trembled.

"Senior, I..."

"Stop crying. Even if Sakura is a bad person, I totally understand."

The sound of holding your breath.

Sakura's confusion was mixed with guilt and regret.

I tried my best to express my feelings as if I wanted to deny it.

"So, let me protect you. No matter what happens, even if Sakura wants to kill herself──

I will always protect Sakura! "

"Learn, grow..."

Something in Sakura's heart was disintegrating, melting, and then tears welled up from her eyes.

"This is an agreement. I will only be a righteous person on Sakura's side."

Emiya held her arm and gave her a little more strength.

Although now they are just touching each other.

But declaring this oath is more indestructible than anything else.

Sakura's shoulders, which were so cold and stiff, relaxed.

No matter what Sakura said, she was still the same Sakura as before.

Even the feeling of the hug and the heat of the skin remained unchanged.

They exhaled white breaths at each other, and the rain kept falling, and they didn't know when it would stop.

In the freezing night,

"No, senior──if this continues, senior will definitely be hurt again."

Sakura said as if she was confessing.

The rain stopped.

The night was as cold as winter, and Emiya couldn't let go of Sakura's body.

"I will hurt you, senior─"

Sakura shed a tear and wet her cheek, and said sadly.

──In this way, a choice is over.

"Go home." Shirou Emiya hugged her and said softly without letting go.

It's like warm sunshine, enough to melt everything.

"Okay, senior..."

Sakura gritted her teeth and laughed.

…

At this point, Sakura's favorability has reached 5 hearts, which is full, which means that the strategy for Sakura has been completed.

In the evening, the two people returned home.

Option 1. Do you want Sakura to come to my room?

Option 2. Sakura is very tired today, let her take a shower and go back to the room to have a good sleep.

Yamada Shoji raised his head and thought for two seconds:

I've already reached this point, even if it's a bad end, I still have to try option 1.

After taking a shower, Sakura was led into Emiya's room.

The moonlight outside poured down, making Sakura's skin white and bright.

It's a pity that nothing can be seen in the picture. The moonlight illuminates the cherry blossoms holy and flawless, and at the same time, it blocks very important places.

hateful!

Yamada Masaharu thought angrily, why is it going to this level without giving some benefits to the players?

Finally conquered Sakura.

"Senior...me,"

Matou Sakura's heartbeat quickened and rumbled.

She leaned forward and put her arms around Emiya.

"I was scared, I'd never done anything like this."

So, this is the first time?

"Sakura, I will protect you."

Feeling Sakura's trembling body, Emiya put his arm around her.

At this time, Sakura's temperature was very high, as if she had a fever.

"Okay, senior."

Sakura's tears fell and dripped onto Emiya Shirou's shoulder.

After they finished, both of them were extremely tired and slept under the same quilt.

Sakura blushed and was confused.

Do not want?

When Emiya Shirou asked her, she shook her head, and then got into the quilt with a blushing face.

Had a dream.

I fell asleep, because I was too tired to open my eyes until dawn, so this must be a dream.

So, that's it.

Now I am holding Sakura in my arms.

…

Ah, I feel relieved.

Yamada Shoji thought to himself.

Although the melancholy of losing Saber still lingered in his chest, when he thought of Sakura's miserable experience in the past, he now wanted to use everything he had to compensate her.

Emiya Shirou, who is able to be gentle and gentle, this male protagonist can't help but make Yamada Masaharu feel a little more fond of him.

…

...(End of chapter)